SPEECH SOUNDS IN STYLISTICS

The stylistic approach to an utterance is not confined to its structure and sense; there is another
thing to be taken into account which plays an important role. This is the way a word, a phrase or
a sentence sounds.
The sound of a word, or more exactly the way words sound in combination, often contributes something
to the general effect of the message, particularly when the sound effect has been deliberately worked
out.

Classification of phonetic stylistic devices

PHONETIC STYLISTIC DEVICES

Phonetic Means of Classification

Phonetic variation

Expressive Phonetic Means

Prosodic means

1) Reduction of vowels

1) Stress

1) Alliteration

2) Omission of sounds

2) Intonation

2) Onomatopoeia

3) Substitution of sounds

3) Rhyme

3) Assonance

Phonetic Variation
Coorticulation in phonology; for the sake of ease and fluency in connected & rapid
speech.

i.
Reduction of vowels: havent, isnt, you = ye; fellow = fella, would you =
wudja.
ii.

Omission of consonants:

Everything = evethin; Henry =Enry, Goodbye as Goobye, old = ole;

and = an.
iii. Substitution of sounds: Mith = Miss; somewhat = summut -; Nawaz
Sharif= Nawash Sharif----- complete mispronunciation.
Sulaiman Ahmad, M.Phil English Linguistics, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad

These stylistic devices have different functions.

i.
Contracted forms characterize colloquial speech.
ii. Other deviations can be used as a means of the personages speech
characteristics they indicate his/her social status, educational level.
iii. Emotional state.

Prosodic means
Prosodic means serve to transfer emotions. Intonation and stress are very
important.
In oral speech, intonation and stress are expressed directly by the speaker. In written speech they
are conveyed indirectly by graphical expressive means / graphical stylistic means.
E.g:

Italics
bold type
capital letters (He was SLAIN in North Africa)
letter multiplication (Allll aboarrrrd!)

Punctuations like Exclamation mark.

dash (re-fuse).

Graphon: is the intentional violation of the spelling of a word (or word combination) used
to reflect its authentic and intended pronunciation.

Rhyme: A rhyme is the repetition of similar sounding words occurring at the end of lines in
poems or songs.

Functions:
i.
It brings rhythm and musicality in poems and differentiates them from prose which is
plain.
ii.
It gives a pleasing effect to a poem which makes its recitation an enjoyable
experience.
iii.
Moreover, facilitates the memorization of a peom. For instance, all nursery rhymes
contain rhyming words in order to facilitate learning for children as they enjoy reading them
and the presence of repetitive patterns enables them to memorize that particular poem
effortlessly.

Sulaiman Ahmad, M.Phil English Linguistics, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad

Expressive Phonetic Means: Phonetic expressive means deal with the sound
instrumenting of the utterance and are mainly found in poetry.
Phonetic expressive means and devices are used for several purposes:
To produce a certain acoustic effect.
To give emphasis to an utterance.
To arouse the readers emotions.

1.Alliteration
Alliteration is a stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same initial consonant
sound, occur close together in a series.
Function: a strong melodic and emotional effect.

Deep into the darkness peering, long and stood there wondering fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before. (E.A. Poe)
The repetition of the sound /d/ in the lines quoted from Poes poem The
Raven evokes the feeling of anxiety, fear, horror, or all these feelings
simultaneously.
It is widely used in folklore, proverbs, sayings, traditional pairs of words:
out of the frying pan into the fire; safe and sound, as fit as a fiddle,
as busy as a bee
Titles (Books/Literary Pieces):
Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility (J. Austen), School for Scandal (R.
Sheridan), Silver Spoon (J. Galsworthy).

Sulaiman Ahmad, M.Phil English Linguistics, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad

2. Assonance
Assonance The repetition of similar vowel sounds usually in stressed syllables.
Assonance has a very important role to play in both poetry and prose.
Creates a musical effect in text.
Enhances the pleasure of reading a literary piece.

On a proud round cloud in a white high night;

I must confess that in my quest I felt depressed and restless

3. Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is a combination of speech-sounds which aims at imitating sounds
produced in nature.
Direct onomatopoeia is contained in words that imitate natural sounds as
e.g. ding-dong, buzz, bang, cuckoo, mew, ping-pong, etc.
Indirect onomatopoeia is a combination of sounds the aim of which is to
make the sound of the utterance an echo of its sense.
It is sometimes called echo-writing
When the sense of an utterance is reflected in the sounds of that utterance.
And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain (E.A.Poe)
The repetition of the sound [s] actually produces the sound of the rustling of the curtain.

Indirect onomatopoeia demands some mention of what makes the sound, the
rustling (of curtain), etc.

Sulaiman Ahmad, M.Phil English Linguistics, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad